Pivotable bucket with rotatable shredder blade and earth ejector

ABSTRACT

A pivotable bucket comprising a unique built-in housing containing a rotatable earth moving mechanism suitably secured to an elbow-type power boom of an excavator or vehicle having hydraulic power thereon. The earth moving mechanism is adapted to dig earth and force it out of the upper side of the bucket structure in a continuous controlled flow. The earth moving mechanism is activated by the power plant of the carrier vehicle.

I Umted States Patent 11 1 Poche [45] Nov. 4, 1975 PIVOTABLE BUCKET WITHROTATABLE 2,974,735 3/1961 Smith et a1 31/93 x DD BLADE AND EARTHFJECTOR 3,132,430 5/1964 Barras 37/92 3,261,117 7/1966 Shoemaker eta1. 1. 37/92 Inventor: J Poche, 6317 Frankhn 3,411,225 11/1968 Barras 1New Orleans, La. 70122 3,417,495 12/1968 Barras 37/93 [22] Flled: July1974 Primary ExaminerClifford D. Crowder [21] Appl. No.: 491,378

57 ABSTRACT 52 us. Cl. 37/93; 37/103; 172/108 A pivotable bucketcomprising a unique built-in 110118- [51] Int. Cl. E02F 3/24 ingContaining a rotatable earth moving mechanism 58 Field of Search 37/91,92, 93, 103; suitably Secured to an yp power boom of an 172/107, 108,109, 271 excavator or vehicle having hydraulic power thereon. The earthmoving mechanism is adapted to dig earth [56] Referen Ci and force itout of the upper side of the bucket struc- UNITED STATES PATENTS ture ina continuous controlled flow. The earth moving mechanism is activated bythe power plant of the 1,155,975 10/1915 Van Antwerp 37/92 carriervehicle 2,670,668 3/1954 Konig 172/271 x 2,946,143 4 Claims, 6 DrawingFigures 7/1960 Beachy et a1. 37/92 US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of23,916,543

U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,916,543

m ML

\sw mmim kZQQ PIVOTABLE BUCKET WITH ROTATABLE SIIREDDER BLADE AND EARTHEJECTOR This invention relates to earth moving machinery; moreparticularly, to earth moving machinery adapted to general excavation,ditching, pipe lines, and the like; still more particularly, tomachinery in the form of a pivotable bucket that is secured to andoperated by a power boom of an earth moving carrier vehicle, saidvehicle embodying such a power boom.

It is a well known fact by those experienced in the art of earth movingthat one of the ever present problems of an earth mover is to remove themaximum amount of earth in a minimum of time with a minimum of effortand equipment.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide apivotable bucket, having rotatable earth moving mechanism, of thecharacter described that is not required to go down in the earth, loadthe bucket, and bring it up and out of the excavation; swing to thefill; place the load; and swing back to the excavation. Thus a timeconsuming operation for the removal of earth or the like is eliminatedby my invention. There is also provided a controlled continuous flow ofearth or the like to a predetermined location.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bucket of the characterdescribed that is connected to an elbow type of power boom secured to anexcavator or other desired vehicle or the like of any desired size andshape.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bucket of the characterdescribed that is operated by a hydraulic system or a system using airor mechanical means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bucket of the characterdescribed, the bucket to be used for work such as ditching, mosquitocontrol, reclamation work, putting out forest fires, making fire lanesand the like. This is possible because of the buckets ability to providea controlled steady flow of mud that can be directed over a wide area orcan be piled close by the ditch, if it is so desired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bucket, havingrotatable earth moving structure, of almost any shape and size that canbe attached to various excavators, bulldozers, and front end loaders toprovide a continuous flow of earth or whatever material that is dug upby the bucket.

Other and further objects and advantages of this novel invention will nodoubt appear as the reading of this specification and its appendedclaims proceeds and the accompanying drawings are examined in connectiontherewith.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of this invention, secured to the boom of acarrier and in typical use.

FIG. 2 is a front view of this invention, as viewed in the directionindicated by the arrowed line and the number 2 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of this invention, taken substantially alongline 3-3 of FIG. 2, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial exploded view of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the shredder blade and a portion of itssupporting structure, as illustrated in FIG. 3, except that here in FIG.5 the shredder blade is shown cutting into the earth.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of that detail of this invention hereinafterknown as the shredder blade, substantially taken along line 66 of FIG.4, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the several views of this invention, like parts of the invention areindicated by like reference numbers. The reference number 10 indicatesthis invention in its entirety.

Looking first at FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings it will be seenthat this invention 10 consists of a bucket 11 in which is locatedhereinafter described rotating structure. The aforesaid bucket 11 isprovided with an upwardly disposed and outwardly projecting dischargechute 12, having an adjustable and thus controlled deflector 13 mountedon the top side thereof for the purpose of deflecting earth and thelike, being dug up by the bucket, to any desired location on top of theground in which the excavation is being made. The back of the aforesaidbucket 11 is provided with a back wall l4 to' which is bolted areduction drive case 15 for the support of the shaft bearing 16 and theencasement 15 of the reduction drive 17. The open forward end of theaforesaid bucket 11 is provided with removable earth cutter blades 18 onthe front face and outer end of each ejection blade 19, describedhereinafter in this specification.

The rotating structure of this novel invention has been mentioned butnot yet described in detail. This just-mentioned structure consists of ahorizontally disposed shaft 20 that is supported by two bearings,namely, the aforesaid shaft bearing 16 that is mounted on the wall ofthe aforesaid reduction drive case 15 which is basically rectangular inconfiguration. The already-mentioned shaft 20 is also supported by theforward support bearing 21 that is located in the aforesaid back wall 14of the bucket 11. A part, which I personally call the rotating wheelstructure 22, is provided with a plurality of outwardly extendingejecting blades 19. The aforesaid blades may be formed integrally withthe rest of the wheel structure 22 or else secured by bolts or rivets tothe body of the wheel. A shredder blade 23 of unique configuration, whenviewed from the side, is secured by shear bolts 24 to the outer surfaceof the hub 25 which is mounted on the outer end of the aforesaid shaft20 of this invention.

A combination shear blade and compression plate 26, having a sharp loweredge 27, is bolted onto the face 28 of the housing 29. Although notpreviously mentioned, the aforesaid combination shear blade andcompression plate 26 has the configuration of a trapezoid. It shouldalso be mentioned at this time that while I have previously stated thatthe bucket 11 is provided with an aforesaid discharge chute 12, thejustmentioned discharge chute 12 is actually a part of the aforesaidhousing 29 which fits into the aforesaid bucket 11 and thus becomes apart of the bucket.

Directing ones attention now to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings it will beseen that this invention is provided with a hydraulic motor 30 or itsequivalent that has its power shaft 31 supporting a sprocket over whichthe chain 32 is placed as a means of rotating the aforesaid rotatablestructure of this invention. These justdescribed details of thisinvention obviously comprise the mechanism of the reduction drive of theinvention. The aforesaid chain 32 also encompasses in part a largersprocket that is located on the aforesaid horizontally disposed driveshaft 20 of this invention.

The only parts of this novel invention that so far have not beendescribed or even mentioned are the power boom 33 of the vehicle towhich this invention is attached and the hydraulic cylinder 34 thatcontrols the digging angle of the aforesaid bucket 11. Going back to theaforesaid power boom 33 it will be seen by looking at FIG. 1 of theaccompanying drawings that the invention has its-bucket pivotabaly curedto the outer end of the just-mentioned power boom 33 by means of alaterally-disposed coupling pin 35 whose outer ends project through theupper front sides of the bucket 11. The hydraulic cylinder 36 controlsthe angle of the aforesaid adjustable deflector 13, the aforesaidhydraulic cylinder 26 being controlled by the operator of the bucket athis control station.

The controlling digging angle of the bucket 11 is obviously done by theoperator of the invention when it is in use.

The way in which this bucket is used is so obvious to those experiencedin the art upon examination of the accompanying drawings that noexplanation of its use is considered necessary or is given in thisspecification.

This invention is subject to any and all changes in detail design,construction, and/or modifications that one may care to make in so longas the changes and/or modifications all fall within the scope and intentof the appended claims.

What I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A bucket pivotable secured to the outer end of an elbow type powerboom attached to a carrier vehicle having hydraulic power, said bucketcomprising a built in housing with an earth moving mechanism adapted torotate and a discharge chute on the upper side of the bucket, said chutehaving an angularly adjustable deflector at the top side, said earthmoving mechanism comprising a rotatable wheel-like structure providedwith a plurality of equally spaced and outwardly extending earthejecting blades integral with said wheellike structure, said blades eachbeing provided with a cutter secured to the radial edge of the blade,the wheel-like structure being mounted on a horizontally disposed powershaft having a shredder blade secured by means of a plurality of shearbolts to a hub mounted on the outer end of the power shaft, the shearbolts protecting the mechanism of the bucket from damage due toobstructions in the earth in which the bucket digs, and a hydraulicmotor mounted in the bucket and connected to the shaft by a reductiondrive mechanism for rotating the shaft, the front and upper portion ofthe said bucket being provided with a trapezoidal shaped combinationshear blade and compression plate having a sharp lower edge, the saidcombination shear blade and compression plate forming a compressionchamber in the upper portion of the said bucket.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said deflector has theconfiguration of an inverted capital letter U when viewed from the frontend of the adjustable deflector.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the shredder blade has a long body,flat and knifelike in configuration with two tapered parallel cuttingedges on one side only, the blade being angled forward on one end andangled back on the other end to provide a wide cutting pattern for theshredder blade.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein the wheel structure provides acentrifugal force and pressure in order to throw and spread the earthand mud or stack the same through said chute.

1. A bucket pivotable secured to the outer end of an elbow type powerboom attached to a carrier vehicle having hydraulic power, said bucketcomprising a built in housing with an earth moving mechanism adapted torotate and a discharge chute on the upper side of the bucket, said chutehaving an angularly adjustable deflector at the top side, said earthmoving mechanism comprising a rotatable wheel-like structure providedwith a plurality of equally spaced and outwardly extending earthejecting blades integral with said wheel-like structure, said bladeseach being provided with a cutter secured to the radial edge of theblade, the wheel-like structure being mounted on a horizontally disposedpower shaft having a shredder blade secured by means of a plurality ofshear bolts to a hub mounted on the outer end of the power shaft, theshear bolts protecting the mechanism of the bucket from damage due toobstructions in the earth in which the bucket digs, and a hydraulicmotor mounted in the bucket and connected to the shaft by a reductiondrive mechanism for rotating the shaft, the front and upper portion ofthe said bucket being provided with a trapezoidal shaped combinationshear blade and compression plate having a sharp lower edge, the saidcombination shear blade and compression plate forming a compressionchamber in the upper portion of the said bucket.
 2. The invention ofclaim 1, wherein said deflector has the configuration of an invertedcapital letter U when viewed from the front end of the adjustabledeflector.